Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers: Memorial Day Weekend Travel Safety Tips

Memorial Day weekend is one of our nation’s busiest travel holidays. AAA Travel is predicting that this year’s summer kick-off weekend will be the busiest one we have seen in the past ten years.  An estimated 37.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend.  More than 88% of them will be traveling by automobile.  The increase in Memorial Day weekend travel for 2015 is largely due to improvement in the nation’s job market and relatively low gas prices.

With the increased volume of traffic over Memorial Day weekend, comes an increased risk of car accidents.  More motor vehicle crashes occur during holiday travel in general, and Memorial Day is no exception.  The number of traffic fatalities that occur over Memorial Day weekend is typically more than 12% higher than non-holiday weekends.  Whether you are headed to the shore, to a barbecue, or to visit family or friends, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Galfand Berger recommend that you take the following precautions to prevent a potentially devastating car accident:

• Do not drink and drive. Memorial Day celebrations often include alcohol, and drunk driving car accidents tend to spike during the holidays.  If you are going to drink, be sure a sober designated driver is available.
• Put down your cell phone. Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.  Talking on the phone or texting while driving significantly increases your risk of being injured or killed in a car crash.  Distracted drivers also put the safety of passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk.
• Buckle up. Wearing a seatbelt, and insisting that your passengers wear theirs, is the best way to protect yourself and others from injury or death in the event of a car accident.  Children should be secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat at all times.
• Inspect your vehicle before you hit the road. Before beginning a Memorial Day road trip, make sure your brakes, headlights, steering, windshield wipers, and tires are all in good working order to avoid preventable car accidents.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger Recover Compensation for Victims of Memorial Day Car Accidents

Sometimes accidents occur despite our best efforts.  If you are injured or have lost a loved one in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence or misconduct, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Galfand Berger can help you recover compensation for your injuries or loss.  Contact us online or call 1-800-222-USWA (8792) to schedule a free consultation.

Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia, Reading and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania allowing us to serve New Jersey and Pennsylvania injured residents in all area communities including Allentown and Harrisburg.